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Wednesday, 16 August 2017

All set for uni? You’ve got your books, somewhere to live and even booked tickets for all the fresher events.

But forgetting one thing could put your life at risk – so get your free MenACWY vaccine from your GP before starting uni.

The MenACWY vaccine is the best way to protect you from four kinds of meningococcal disease - the main cause of meningitis and septicaemia. The Men A, C, W and Y strains are a serious and can kill.

Those in their late teens, particularly new uni students, are at higher risk of meningococcal disease. You should get vaccinated at least two weeks before you start uni so you have protection before you go.

If you can’t get vaccinated before starting uni, get the vaccine as soon as you arrive.

More than two million people have been vaccinated and we have shown that the vaccine works.

University freshers under 25 should have the free jab, along with anyone born on or after 1 September 1996 (if you’ve not already been vaccinated).

So what are you waiting for? Make an appointment with your GP now and get the MenACWY vaccine. It will help you make the most out of your university experience and it might save your life.

Tuesday, 15 August 2017

Don’t get ‘FOMO’ on exam results day! Panic buying because you think you’ll miss out is not the solution to your problems. Here our advisor Annie Dobson helps bring some perspective to what can be a worrying time for everyone.

Exam results day are stressful for most people – so you don’t have to do this alone

Take someone with you, preferably parents or carers, and if you can, get them to drive so that you have one thing less to worry about.

It's good to have people you care about to celebrate with, but it's also important to have them there if your results are not what you had hoped for. If things have not gone to plan, take a moment to let it sink in.

Talk to your support, be it your parents or carers or your teachers and listen to them, they can be the voice of reason. It's important not to panic, and not to panic buy when you start to look at clearing options.

Take your time, and remember, you can take a year to take stock, re-sit if necessary, get some work experience and transferable skills and re-apply for next year.This really is all about you!

It's important to focus on you. There are not many times in life when you shouldn’t have to think about others, but make sure you blank out what your peers and friends are or are not doing. Don't rush into anything for fear of missing out, remember it's your future and no-one else's so make sure it's right for you.

There is the chance that you won't get the course of your choice through clearing and it's better, in this case that you look at the alternatives, rather than rush onto a course simply to say you are at university.

Plan. Creating a plan for the day, and the days leading up to it can really help.

Take a look at alternatives, in case things don’t go to plan. This could be a list of clearing possibilities or alternatives such as Foundation Degrees, HNDs and HNCs as well as employment and apprenticeships.

On the day, check your status on Track to see if you have been accepted into your firm or insurance choice. Track opens at 8am, however, it will not tell you your grades and you will need to find out from Sixth Form or College about how you will receive your results. Eat something in the morning – preferably after you’ve had a good sleep!

When you do go to collect your results, make sure you go prepared and that means physically also. Try and get a good night’s sleep and then get up and have a decent breakfast. You don't want to be wobbly if you have to spend time there trying to sort our university or accommodation, and you certainly don't want to be celebrating on an empty tummy!

Make sure you top up in case things bottom out

Take a fully charged and topped up mobile with you in case you need to contact your university or to contact others through clearing. Take your universities contact details as well as any you thought about clearing options just in case you want to consider adjustment, things don't go to plan, or you have simply changed your mind.

Take a note of the Exam Results Helpline 0808 100 8000 - there are experienced advisers on hand to help you.

I will never forget the day I finished my final A level
exam. FREEDOM. The summer that followed was one of the happiest times of my
life. No worries. No revision. No pressure. But all good things come to an end,
and before the summer was up it was results day. I still get just a little bit
sick thinking about it. It was many years ago now but in many ways, it feels like
yesterday. It's like a slow-motion rollercoaster. There is nothing you can do
to alter or change those results.

So much pressure is placed on those few results. I can
remember thinking that my whole life could be made or broken by them.
University and thence my career both relied on them. I remember opening the
envelope. Heart pounding as my eyes settled on the marks. I could see a D and
an N. N? What was that? I had failed.

My stomach churned and I was overcome with a wave of
hopelessness. I was alone at home with only my dogs for company. I tried to
rationalise the situation but to be honest it felt hopeless. I was a failure.

I fell into a bit of a rut. I was enveloped in waves of
depression. All my friends had got their grades and their university places. I
had neither.

My parents were surprisingly unperturbed. They shrugged
their shoulders and together we looked at options. Retakes. Gap year. Clearing.

It's a long story but I found a job to earn enough money
and took off for a year to South America, where I learnt fluent Spanish. One
year became two and by the time I returned, I persuaded a university to accept
me on a degree in Latin American studies.

It's strange, the many twists and turns our lives take,
and A level results are important but by no means vital.

My advice to you, if you haven't got the grades you hoped
for, is to be positive. There is always another way. There is always an
alternative. Don't cave in to the little negative devil on your shoulder. Blow
the clouds of despair away and look for the sunlight beyond.

And if in doubt, remember my tale. I failed my exams and
I haven't done so badly.

Starting university can be a wonderful and exciting experience,
but it can also bring its own unique challenges. It's natural to feel nervous
or overwhelmed during the first few weeks at university, and it can be a while
before you feel like you’ve found your feet. Student Minds works to transform
the state of student mental health so that all in Higher Education can thrive,
including you!

Student Minds is the UK’s student mental health charity. We
empower students and members of the university community to develop the
knowledge, confidence and skills to look after their own mental health, support
others and create change. We train students and staff in universities across
the UK to deliver student-led peer support interventions as well as
research-driven campaigns and workshops. By working collaboratively across
sectors, we share best practice and ensure that the student voice influences
decisions about student mental health.

It is common to worry about moving to university, it is key to
remember that you won't be the only one feeling this way. Read about other
students’ experiences of starting university and what they wish they had known
when they started. Find tips for students, written by students on the Student Minds Blog.

Before moving to university it is helpful to find out what support
is available on your campus:

Disclose
any pre-existing mental health difficulties to your university so they can
support

Register
for a doctor in your new city

Find
out about your university counselling services and what support they offer

More
tips on making friends, dealing with homesick, settling in, preparing for
university and looking after yourself are available here.

Find out how you can get involved with Student Minds on your
campus! There are a variety of ways to get involved as a student including:
setting up or joining a group at your university, blogging, campaigning or
fundraising.

“I found getting involved with Student Minds a big step in my
mental health journey, I only wish I had known about their amazing resources
when I was in my first year and not my last. I honestly don’t know what I would
have done without the charity.” - Student Minds Volunteer

Not everyone is born confident. Moving away from home is a part of life that most people will encounter. Some university students may find the move an exciting and fresh start, whereasothers may see the experience as a terrifying proposition. If you find yourself in the latter camp, I'm here to tell you that this overwhelming feeling is perfectly normal.

It's difficult moving to a new environment, with new faces and a new daily routine, especially if you’re the only one out of your friends attending the university. I'm currently in this situation, and it does not help knowing I will have to adjust myself to whatever situation I will find myself in when I move to Lincoln.

Living with social anxiety can exacerbate the nerves already surrounding starting uni. In my case, I find it difficult being left in a shopping aisle alone when my mother ‘ditches’ me to get some veg from an aisle on the other side of the store. Other days, I find it difficult to make phone calls to people I am unfamiliar with, or to answer the door to receive a parcel from the postman.

Slowly, however, I've been teaching myself to take control of my anxiety in everyday situations by introducing two techniques that have helped massively with my social anxiety.

Music
My fellow social anxiety sufferers, music is a powerful gift to all of us. Especially if you are able to find an artist who is able to relate to how you are feeling.

I have found that even going shopping alone or with someone who decides to leave you, putting your headphones on diverts the attention to the lyrics of the song. It's a simple technique, but in many cases very effective.

Running
It doesn't have to be running. Going to the gym or working out with friends can help you get outside your comfort zone too. Balancing the body will help to balance the mind. The more you place yourself in these situations, the more you will begin to get used to social situations.

I personally do not go to the gym. Instead, I go running around my block, or in the park. This helps me get confident in the environment I live in, as well as pushing myself to go past people, instead of avoiding them. Working out with music can help increase the confidence you have in yourself, as well as contributing to not thinking twice about approaching people in your classes.

I can't say these techniques will work for every social anxiety sufferer, but it has been said that music and fitness help to increase one’s mood and confidence. I, for one, can support this notion, as it has made me feel more in control in situations that involve other people.

University is a whole new chapter that should be seen with bright eyes. You can't think negatively about the what ifs. This is an opportunity to reinvent yourself and start afresh. You are who you want to be. Our social anxieties will always be in the back of our minds, but remember that you are in control of your body and mind. Make that a motto and accomplish what you set out to do!

For more advice from students, join the student community at Campus Society.

Viewing, packing, moving in, and decorating sounds like the most exhilarating thing, right? You're either prepared to start a new chapter of your life, or all hyped up for your second or third freshers, and hanging out with your mates all over again. It's such an exciting time of the year, but it's worth taking a minute to consider how you're going to manage your independence over the next year.

Those bills don't solve themselves
Unfortunate but true – the money involved in the rent isn't the only money you'll need to fork out. By keeping track of what you each owe per week or per month, it'll be so much easier when it comes to paying your letting agents. Keep emergency numbers, previous payments, and any necessary details together, somewhere all housemates can access. If someone has to file through every bit of discarded paper on top of the fridge to find out who to contact, or can't find necessary numbers because they're locked in Jonny's room, it can be a nightmare.

Force yourself to love cleaning
From experience, telling yourself everything will be OK for another week is a recipe for disaster. Get a grip and get your hands dirty! The more disgusting it gets, the less you'll want to clean, so start while it's acceptable and keep it constant. Don't let your lazy flatmates get away with it as everyone has to be held accountable – especially if you're facing potential fines or don't want your landlord to hate you if you ask for a lease renewal later.

Bin duty
Don't be that person who forces food into a bin that's already struggling – if everyone adopts this habit, it'll never get sorted out. If you see a full bin, accept your fate, sort it out, and hope others follow suit, either out of guilt or genuine responsibility. Recycle when you can, whether it's because you're passionate or it's trendy to be environmentally conscious. Your local council is apparently amazing at advising students on new living, so get in touch with any questions, even if they're minor.

Realising even food can be an issue
It's so hard to work out how much or little food you need, especially when you might have nights where you cook as a group, get a takeaway, or eat out. Piling things up that won't get used in time is what makes student areas look so grim on rubbish collection days, and the amount of food waste is a seagull's dream. If you're a terror for over-buying, simply cook it all up and freeze it, so you don't have to throw it too soon.

The most important – living money
It goes without saying, but also needs to be said – do not spend money on anything that will harm you when it's time for rent and bills. Unless you're positive you'll have the funds, you do not need to go on an unnecessary night out. If you're struggling, remember that it's much better to have a week cleaning out the back of the food cupboards than it is to get constant calls from your letting agent, asking why you're not giving them the agreed money. It'll harm your friendship with your flatmates if they get fined or punished too!

For more advice from students, join the student community at Campus Society.

1. Exercise
30 minutes of daily exercise is recommended. As exercising releases endorphins, it’s great for your mood and your overall wellbeing, plus it's a welcome break from sitting in lectures and seminars.

2. Drink water
Water is essential for good mental health. It can be easy to forget to drink water when you’re wrapped up in essay stress, but regularly drinking glasses of water improves concentration and decreases your stress levels by thoroughly hydrating you. Each time you sit down at your desk, make sure you have a glass of water to hand.3. Sufficient sleep
Late night library sessions and TV series binging take their toll. When you’re overly tired, your concentration levels crash. It is important to regulate your sleep pattern – try to get at least seven hours of sleep a night, and to sleep and wake at the same time each day.4. Break down your work
Do you have a difficult essay to write, a heavy text to analyse before your seminar, or some revision for a tricky exam? You can often feel overwhelmed and unsure where to start.

Try sitting down at your desk each Sunday afternoon to plan out what you aim to complete each day of the following week. This will help you feel organised and calmer about your workload. If you want to talk to someone about how to manage your time, or just for general guidance, look for a study advice team at your library, or speak to the study community on campus.

5. Socialise
Meeting up with a close friend at least once a day can boost your mood. Make time for the people who make you feel happy, and you know you can have a laugh with, even if it’s just for an hour.

6. Get outside
In exam season, students tend to stay in their rooms immersed in revision, so schedule half an hour each day for getting outside and breathing fresh air. It will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to get back to your desk for round two!

Plants and flowers have been proven to help maintain good mental health by reducing stress and creating a calmer environment. For these reasons, I’d suggest also bringing nature into your room. Find some cheap house plants – they're easy to look after, as they don't require watering that often!

For more advice from students, join the student community at Campus Society.

Summer is well and truly upon us. For some of you, the preparation for moving into your new house for second or third year might be underway. For others, you might be looking at your bedrooms at home, wondering what’s going to make the cut and come with you to your halls of residence in September.

Either way, both privately rented accommodation and university halls are not exactly stylish. Yes, this can mean when you open your bedroom door, you will find a dull, empty room. It also means you have a blank canvas to make your own (well, you know, within the guidelines of the contract).

You might think decorating a bedroom on a student budget is impossible, but it’s not. Here are some tips, advice, and suggestions to help you make the most of your new space while saving as much money as possible.

1. Fairy lights
Fairy lights are your go-to. They’re homely, cosy, and great for evenings when you want to snuggle up and watch a movie. They’re also cheap.

You can pick these up anywhere on the high street, and if you have no luck there, you can easily find some online.

2. Desk
Don’t use your desk as a place for dirty plates, rubbish, and disregarded work. Use it to put things such as picture frames, a small mirror, trinkets, or a jewellery stand on. Not only will this show off some personality and brighten up the empty space, it will also give you a nice, clean environment to work in.

Go to the local charity shops and you can easily find items such as trinket dishes and picture frames, all for super cheap prices. You’ll also feel good knowing you have contributed to a good cause.

3. Plants
You might not be that into horticulture, but you can’t go wrong with bringing a little nature inside. Plants have an uncanny ability to bring the dullest rooms to life. They also clear the air in your room, which is a nice thought after you've spent half a week in bed binge-watching your favourite series.
Some low-maintenance plants include a money tree, cacti and succulents, aloe vera, ferns, and a snake plant. You can get these at local markets, home DIY shops or garden centres, or one of the independent shops in and around town.4. Soft furnishings
A couple of pillows and a blanket will make a huge difference to the cosiness of your room, and they don’t have to be expensive. You can pick things like this up from the market or in large chain stores for just a few pounds. They will add colour and texture to your new bedroom, while making it feel homely and snug.

You don’t have to spend lots of money to create your home-away-from-home. With a little imagination, you can make your room just how you want it, and still have money left for a takeaway pizza. Good luck!

For more advice from students, join the student community at Campus Society.

Monday, 14 August 2017

Advisors at the Exam Results Helpline are preparing
for the busiest day of the exam results season on Thursday (Aug 17, 2017) as
students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland receive their A Level
results.

More than 40 advisors will be on hand for the expected
influx of thousands of learners who receive unexpected results and need support
and guidance on what to do next.

The Exam Results Helpline, which is funded by the
Department for Education and run through UCAS, has been helping students for
more than a quarter of a century. Last year, advisors answered more than 7,500
calls over the two weeks it was open for A Levels and GCSE students.

Universities Minister Jo Johnson said: “The Exam
Results Helpline provides a vital service for all students, no matter the
outcome on results day.

“Whether you have received an unexpected result or
want to make sure you’ve considered all the options, there will be an expert
available to offer support and guidance on your next step.

“That could be university, a foundation degree, a
high-quality apprenticeship, a gap year or something entirely different. So, if
you have any questions please do give them a call.”

One of the callers from 2016 was Kevin Bediouhoune, now aged 19, who had not done as
well as he hoped in his A Levels.

Kevin got an ‘E’ in A Level Biology,
a ‘D’ in A Level English Literature, a ‘C’ in AS Level Chemistry and a ‘C’ in
AS Level English Language.

His grades meant Kevin, who was born
in Cameroon but lived in Leeds from the age of five, missed his first choice of
the Liverpool John Moores University. His second choice, the University of
Central Lancaster, no longer appealed to him.

Kevin,19, called the Exam Results
Helpline because he wanted to know if turning down the offer from Central
Lancaster would have any consequences for him, because he still wanted to
attend university.

He said: “When I got my results I
knew myself I could have done better. Sadly, my grandma had died during my
study period and it had affected my whole process.

“I was gutted, because when you do
sciences at A Level they’re the hardest ones you can do. There were so many
exams and so much hard work.

“The Exam Results Helpline told me I
just needed to call Lancaster to let them know. After that they said there were
still lots of universities still looking for students to fill spaces and there
was still a lot I could do.”

After ringing a number of
universities Kevin was invited in to see the University of Hull, where he is
now studying Biomedical Science.

Kevin added: “You can’t let it get
you down. At the end of the day you can still go to university.

“You may think everything is shut -
but there’s always another door open to you.”

Students can call the helpline number on 0808 100 8000
and also get help through the Exam Results Helpline’s dedicated Twitter and Facebook
accounts.

There are some things you obviously need to take to uni – like clothes, shoes, and bedding – but here are ten things that might not seem so important, but, from experience, are essential.

Posters, pictures, and wall hangings
It might not seem like much of an 'essential', but trust me, it is. When you move into your room and look at the stacks of boxes and blank white walls, it's easy to get homesick. You don't want to feel like you're living in a hotel room for a year. Take posters and things to put on your walls. It's also a very good idea to take pictures of you with your friends and family, as most halls will have a corkboard where you can pin them up.

Wok
Take a good wok with you. This is a durable piece of kit that's great for a multitude of one-pot meals, perfect for cooking for one person, batch cooking, and all those endless stir fry meals you'll be making.

Dressing gown
The humble dressing gown. Hidden in its soft, cosy goodness is a variety of purposes. Fire alarm going off at 04:00? Chuck it on before you get outside. Cold but don't want to turn the heating up? On it goes. Walking back from the shared bathroom to your room after a shower? The dressing gown strikes again. Feeling sad? Yep, it'll fix even that.

First aid kit and medicines
This might make me look like a neurotic parent, but honestly, you will need plasters (and blister plasters), paracetamol, ibuprofen, and cough medicine.

The plasters are for the inevitable time when you accidentally cut yourself when chopping vegetables, or think you can wear those six inch heels all night. The painkillers and cough medicine should always be kept in close reach so that when you wake up with horrendous freshers’ flu, you will be able to survive without making your flatmate go out on a pharmacy run. Another cheeky tip is to keep little sachets of rehydration salts handy – they can be lifesavers.

Extension lead
Uni halls have a habit of having only one or two plug sockets, in ridiculous locations. If you want to plug in your laptop and phone at the same time, and have them within easy reach of your bed (as we all know, this is a necessity), take an extension lead with you.

A doorstop
The doorstop is a magical thing. It should be renamed the 'friendmaker'. It is much harder to make friends with your new flatmates when your door is constantly closed.

Even if you're just chilling in your room, keeping the door propped open will say ‘You're welcome to come in and chat!’. It also means that if you do want some privacy, just by closing your door, people will probably get the hint and leave you be.

Just make sure you don't prop open any of the big fire doors that will probably be between corridors and kitchens, as this is a real fire hazard.

Mattress topper
If you have one spare or can afford to shell out for one, a mattress topper is a nice luxury addition. The beds in uni halls are usually rather uncomfortable. When I saw mine, my heart sunk. The springs stuck into my ribs, and it was actually a fold-up camping bed. I was so relieved that I took a comfy mattress topper.

Playing cards
Another great thing to help you get along with your flatmates, and find something to do in the first few awkward evenings. You could also bring some board games.

One fancy dress item, or face paint
If you like to go out or go to parties, this one will come in handy. I bought some face paint in my first year and used it many times. Many freshers’ events have themes, and you don't want to be that stick-in-the-mud who turns up in ordinary clothes. If you join a sports club, they will likely have weekly socials that involve fancy dress too.

Earplugs, decent headphones, or both
If you want to be able to sleep well on any given night, bring earplugs. You might not have awful, inconsiderate flatmates, but sometimes people might be heading out when you just fancy a night in. If you can fall asleep to music, some good headphones or earphones are a great thing to pack.

For more advice from students, join the student community at Campus Society.

Friday, 11 August 2017

As we run up to A Level results day on August 17 many students will be looking at the option of deferring and/or taking a gap year.

Exam Results Helpline Careers Advisor Iwan Williams explains how to make the most of this valuable time.

Q: Gap years used to be about finding yourself and going travelling to far flung places – how has this changed in the past few years?

A: There has been a major shift towards much more targeted and strategic approach to gap years. No longer is it viewed just a chance to ‘find yourself’ on a beach in Goa. Graduate employers want more than a degree. They are also seeking a cultural fit and if the student has a range of experiences to draw on it can really enhance employability.

Q: Is it important for students to learn another language etc while they are on their trips?
A: Having another language is undoubtedly seen as a good thing by many employers and if the chance is presented and the desire is there to do it then absolutely grasp that. With many employers having an increasingly global approach, it can be a significant advantage.

However, it is not essential.

Q: Why do you think gap years are so popular?
A: Alongside the break from education and the chance to travel, a gap year provides the chance to spend time on self-development and build confidence – ideally by participating in a range of activities like volunteering, working etc – and then take that leap the following year.

Finally, there will be those who are thinking about their future career plans. Some will want to build relevant experience to help their application to university/graduate job while others might not have made their minds up and need more time before making such a decision.

Q: What do universities particularly look for from the gap year student?
A: Universities will want to see that the year has been spent positively and not been wasted. Self-development is key and whether this is through travel, gaining work experience or volunteering it’s important to think about how this will be evidenced.

Some universities will want to interview applicants during the process but all will read a personal statement. So, make sure this details the valuable experiences and skills learnt and how this will be put to good use during a degree course. This is essential.Q: What other observations can we draw from your experience of gap years?
A: Gap years where there is a focus on gaining work experience can benefit students in two ways. Firstly, they can explore different roles and see how well suited they are and this can then lead to decisions around what degree to study. An example might be nursing – how do you know that you can work in such a clinical and demanding environment without ever having experienced it?

Also, it provides the student with the chance to pull together an employability toolkit. For example, if a student wants to work in law, having experience of working for a law firm helps them develop networks within the sector, gain a better understanding of the role and its wider impact – what we call commercial awareness – as well as offering a range of real life experiences to use in interviews and application forms.

Congratulations! You are about to embark on the best career and this year will, without a doubt, be your most challenging and most rewarding year professionally. To ensure a successful Initial Teacher Training (ITT) year you need to make sure that you are fully focused on developing the craft of teaching. To be where you are right now you will no doubt have an innate way with children but to learn the ever-changing skill of teaching, you need to be fully committed to continual professional development throughout the rest of your teaching career.

Behaviour Management is a skill that underpins great teaching. Without successful behaviour management in your class, you cannot have a learning atmosphere, you cannot deliver that incredible lesson that you have planned and you cannot achieve the outcomes nor the progress that you need to. Not only is it in the best interests of the children to get this part right but it is most definitely in the best interests of yourself to consistently revisit behaviour management.

Firstly, let me dispel the myth and there’s no easy way to say this: there is no magic wand. Strategies need to be added to your behaviour management toolkit and kept stored. Strategies will work with some children and not others. Some will work for a while then need changing but the following 5 ways will underpin the strategies that you develop:

1. Relationships
Relationships will be the foundations of your classroom and support you with all things education. They allow you to be able to develop a connection with a child, understand their likes/dislikes, understand the way in which they learn and enable you to support them with their emotional development. Relationships aren’t a given when you start your ITT year and you have a much tougher job to develop them during your placement due to the time pressure. The best way that you can do this in this short space of time is to immerse yourself in school time. Make it your job to get to know people. Go out at break times, get involved in an after-school club and even have your dinner in the hall a few times.

2. Parents
This links explicitly to relationships but take responsibility for passing on messages to parents from Day 1. Say hello, be friendly and show that you know the children. Teachers and Parents both have the best interests of the child at heart as this is the basis of your relationship. These positive interactions make it much easier to have the more difficult conversations. But don’t forget the positives. They often get missed when dismissing the children at the end of the day as you’re often spinning many plates.

3. Boundaries

It may seem strange having boundaries as number 3 on the list but before you even step into your placement school, I suggest that you read through the behaviour policy clearly. If it’s not on the website, then ask for it. It’s much easier to implement boundaries when you know the common ones for the school that you are in. The inconsistency of boundaries leaves room for errors which leaves room for disruption. It’s much easier to have tight boundaries then release if needed than to do the reverse so ensure that you are crystal clear on these.

4. Consistency
With implementing the behaviour policy, you must ensure consistency. Not only consistency from yourself but also consistency from your staff. If you are lucky enough to have a support assistant within your class, then you need to ensure that you are both clear on your classroom rules. Constantly revisit this with your classroom staff as people’s opinions on behaviour can vary.

5. Positivity

Reward the behaviour that you want to see. I am not advocating extrinsic rewards e.g. stickers, positive notes home although they are a great way of communicating with home. This can be anything from a smile or verbal yet specific praise. It must be specific in order for the children to understand expectations so instead of saying ‘Well done’ then you can amend this to ‘Well done for showing kindness to Jenny’.

Enjoy your ITT year and make sure that you network. The colleagues that you link with will be pivotal to the rest of your career. Welcome to the best profession on earth!

Tracey

Tracey Lawrence has been a primary school teacher for nine years, and is currently a SEMH specialist leader for education and Assistant Headteacher in a mainstream school in Leicestershire. An author and TES columnist, Tracey is a regular blogger and host of the popular #behaviourchat forum. Her new book, Practical Behaviour Management for Primary School Teachers is due out in September. Follow her on Twitter @BehaviourTeach

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If you liked this…

It’s one of a series of blogs to help make your introduction to teacher training a little easier. Get up-to-speed with some of the topics you’re likely to encounter in your training:

Wednesday, 9 August 2017

A Level results day last year
Molly found herself confused when she received her results and realised she had not done as well as she thought – but according to the online report was still accepted into her first choice of Bath Spa University to study Media and Communications.

Molly, who is now 19, had been worried after she received a C in English Language, a D is Sociology and an E in Psychology and said she felt ‘stressed and confused’ about what she would do next.

With results that were lower than she expected, she felt unsure about the fact she would still be accepted onto her course.

“I was really nervous. You wake up and realise that ‘today is the day’ and so there’s quite a lot of pressure on you.

“When I looked online and saw my grades I really freaked out as I got lower than I thought. It was so nerve wracking anyway with all the build up to it and so the day itself was pretty traumatic.

“The thing that was confusing was that it said I was still going to get into Bath but I couldn’t really believe that without checking it out properly.”

How the Exam Results Helpline supported Stefanie
“I called the helpline number and spoke to someone who was so helpful and told me what to do. Their advice is common sense, things like calling the university itself, speaking with tutors, looking at all the other options available – things you really need to hear if you’re worried and don’t know what to do.”

Molly has now completed her first year at Bath Spa and is loving the course but said that people should always look at other options too: “I’m really glad I got into the course but university isn’t for everyone and so people should explore other options.

Stefanie’s advice to this year’s students:

“The Exam Results Helpline is the perfect resource to go through the choices in detail with someone who really knows their stuff and can help you not just think about education but about the job you want at the end of it too.”

Friday, 4 August 2017

Our favourite KISS FM presenter, DJ Pandora, is once again helping
spread the love for our helpline. We asked her what it's like when she did
her GCSEs and what tips she had for those facing it this year.

Q: You did GCSEs, can you remember what it felt
like on the run up to it?

A: On the run up to my GCSE exams I remember
feeling anxious, and if I am honest, a bit stressed as I was constantly
worrying if I had done enough revision. I tried to be organised and I remember
setting time aside every day for a different subject and getting my friends to
help with study groups, but you're still left with this feeling that you've not done enough.

Q: How did it feel on the day?

A: The moment I woke up on exam day, I had a clear
head as I was eager to just get in and do it. I had the huge build up of worry
and I just wanted to get it over and done with, and get everything down on
paper.

Q: When did you decide you didn’t want to go on and
be a vet?

A: I've always had a love for animals and my
parents wanted me to be a vet which I thought would be incredible. The only
problem was I felt squeamish around blood so I had no idea how I would cope in
that environment.

I’d always had a love of drama and at that time I
wanted to be an actress so when I got an A* in Drama I was over the moon.

My parents were quite keen for me to pursue the
veterinary course but I got a D in maths and a double DD in science, meaning
getting that degree to become a vet just wasn’t going to be possible! They
offered to pay for extra tuition to retake the exams but I told them I was
happy with what I got, as it confirmed the direction I wanted to take my career
in.

Q: How did you start your career in radio?

A: I started out as a promo girl at Heart Radio,
and I used that experience to shadow everyone I possibly could in that building!
I let everyone know that I wanted to be a radio presenter and would do anything
I could to find out everything about the trade. I worked in every aspect of
radio whether it was alongside the producers, finding out what the engineers
did, and listening to the sales team. I even sat in on a pre-recorded show to
see how it was technically operated.

I first started at a community radio called
Westside, and after a few moves to other stations, Capital Radio became interested
in me to do the 3am slot, then I did daytime. I was there for 4 years and just
one year ago I made the decision to join KISS and the infamous KISSTORY show
and I’m having the time of my life.

Q: What three key things do you want to say to
people who are waiting?

A:

Mange your stress levels because you have worked hard and done all you
can.

Look at options of where you want to take your career, no matter the
outcome of your results. Have an idea of the sort of career you would like to
pursue.

Always remember even if your grades are not what you wanted, you can
STILL be a success in life ... I am proof of that!

Q: Why should they call the helpline?

A: The helpline is a great place to go if you are
looking for impartial and useful advice. It can sometimes be daunting speaking
about your career with people you know, so you can call the helpline with any
concerns or worries. The team understand all the modern paths and options you
can follow, and can give genuine advice which will help ease your stress.

Just remember that anyone can be taught how to do a
job, but no one can teach you how to be you, so make sure you are always the
best version of yourself.

University has been the best three years of my life so far but, at first, it didn’t feel like that way.

I was really excited about my new adventure – I was moving 200 miles north to begin my university course in occupational therapy. But the homesickness set in during Freshers’ Week. I found my new life very difficult – I had arrived with freshers’ flu (yes, it does exist!) and I cried all the time. I can remember saying to my family that, if I wasn’t feeling better within four weeks, I was coming home. But I stuck with it and it got better and, three years down the line, I graduated.

Feeling homesick is a normal part of starting university, especially when you’ve travelled a long way from home. Suddenly everything around you is different – a new place, people, accents, culture, language, course, combined with the pressure to get out there.

But if, like me, you’re feeling homesick, there are things that can help – buying posters from the Students’ Union, printing photos, putting up fairy lights – whatever makes your new room feel like your space.

Explore your surroundings and try to establish a routine quickly, like the route you walk to lectures or the day you do your washing. This can make the new environment feel more stable and you will hopefully feel more settled. If you're really not happy with the house you’re in, you can contact the university's accommodation services to see if you can move – although it’s always worth giving it a few weeks to settle in first.

One of the best things you can do is have a positive attitude and keep yourself busy. There are so many ways to meet people at university – in your halls, on your course, at one of the sports clubs and societies. You can volunteer or work as a student ambassador. You can meet people in the library, laundrette, gym, supermarket, or the SU toilets on a Friday night! Watching Game of Thrones in your room eating a tub of ice cream may seem appealing but it’s not going to help you make friends.

Something that I wish I had done sooner was to talk to my personal tutor and lecturers about homesickness. They are there to support you as much as teach you. You can also talk to the chaplain, student services, counsellors and staff at the Students’ Union.

So if, like me, you’re feeling homesick and don’t know what to do, remember that it’s normal to have doubts and worries about your new life. Talk to people. Chances are others feel the same – you will soon begin to settle in and have an amazing time at university. Believe me, three years flies by and, when it’s all over, you’ll be reminiscing about feeling homesick.